Academy coaching update

We are pleased to confirm our Under-18s coaching structure ahead of the new season.

Ryan Mason returns to the Academy as Head of Player Development after a spell as the Club’s Interim Head Coach at the end of last season.

As part of his overall remit in the Under-17 to Under-23 age category, he will have a significant involvement across our Under-18s coaching programme alongside our new Under-18s Coach, Stuart Lewis.

Previously our Under-16s Coach, Stuart steps up to lead the Under-18s having himself come through our Academy system at the beginning of his playing career. Initially joining us as a teenager in 2004, the boyhood Spurs fan progressed to sign his first professional contract with us before enjoying a senior playing career in the Football League with clubs such as Barnet, Stevenage, Gillingham, Dagenham & Redbridge and Wycombe Wanderers, subsequently representing Ebbsfleet United, Maidstone United and Dover Athletic at non-league level. Returning to the Club as a part-time coach six years ago, he became our full-time Under-16s Coach in 2019 and has played a key role in the development of numerous players who have shone in our Under-18s set-up in recent years.

In addition, we are pleased to confirm the appointment of Dean Brill as Academy Goalkeeping Coach. Joining us from Leyton Orient, where he held a role on the first team coaching staff and additionally played as part of the late Justin Edinburgh’s promotion-winning side in 2019, Dean will work under existing Academy Coach Perry Suckling to nurture and develop our young goalkeepers.

Academy Manager Dean Rastrick said: “Ryan’s return to the Academy allows him to continue his outstanding work as a coach and player developer – something he is passionate about – and with Stuart stepping into the role of Under-18s Coach, we have a strong leadership team in place to aid the progress of our young players as they make the transition from the youth phase into the senior end of the Academy.

“After undergoing a recruitment process following Matt Taylor’s departure to become the Head Coach of Walsall, we feel it’s important to continue to employ staff who have been there and seen it as a young footballer and as a professional footballer. Something that’s very important to us is that both Ryan and Stuart have come through the system here and they’re strong believers in our principles behind youth development.

“I’m thrilled that Dean has joined us as Academy Goalkeeping Coach. Again, he’s been an apprentice, a young pro, had a good playing career, has his coaching qualifications and is now transitioning into the full-time coaching field. We worked closely with him during his time at Leyton Orient and he’s a player developer, so he’ll work under Perry Suckling as we further strengthen our goalkeeping department with the overall aim of producing a future Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper.

“We’re delighted with the overall structure that we have in place and with the help of our wider Academy coaching team, including Chris Powell, Wayne Burnett, Paul Bracewell and Bradley Allen, we believe we’re able to provide the best possible environment for our young players to thrive.”